52 Weeks of Joy: Week 26

This post means the year is half over...And we're loving this blog more and more! It's been a wonderful way to keep track of these two cuties pies as they grow and grow. We can see so much change in them both from just six months ago.

6 months ago

But that's not what we are joyful about today. Oh no. Today we take joy in ROUTINE. Some are surely shaking their heads and gagging at the thought. Routine? How could that ever be joyful? Oh, but it truly is, especially our new WRITTEN (typed) ROUTINE. Don't get too worked up, it's nothing elaborate. But the order to our week has been so helpful because Miriam was getting pretty bored with her Mommy and her Sister and her toys. It was making Mommy impatient. What to do? How to engage this bright little girl?

Then Mommy went to get her hair cut. (If you can't find the answer in church, run to the salon - it's probably there.) The nice lady with five seriously well behaved children began to sell the written routine and year round learning. Now the girls are pretty young, but this wise lady said it's never too early to start teaching your children. We decided to give it a shot.

In comes the routine...each week we have a theme, letter, shape, number, color, etc. that we celebrate. We talk, color, read, and eat about it. We find it, we draw it, we sing it, we look at it. We are all about it, all week long. The routine tells us that on Monday we'll introduce the theme for the week and do a few activities, Tuesday we'll sing songs and read books about it, etc. And Vivian seems to really be enjoying the structure and attention, as well. She doesn't always understand what we're doing and she isn't a pro with glue, but she loves to mimic Miriam and she loves to follow Mommy around. So the written routine is a hit with our little ladies.

And Mommy's chores are on the written routine, too (that way she actually does clean the house). Yippee.

So the girls are happier and the house is cleaner. Sold on a written routine.

This week was Rainbow Week. We created our own rainbows, had rainbow snacks, colored rainbow pictures, read about Noah's Ark, made rainbow collages, ate rainbow pancakes, painted rainbow toast, and MORE!

Painting rainbow toast was the favorite activity of the week. Little milk, little food color, little toast. Easy and at least a half an hour of pure entertainment.

Of course, Vivian had to try painting her self. But that's to be expected.

And Miriam had to taste test it. But that was pretty bland. So back to painting.

Happy Rainbow Week.